Malcolm Cecil among highlights at Chicagoland synth meet Knobcon 4

Over the past four years, a grassroots analog and modular synthesizer meet-up has been stealthily growing in Chicagoland. If you’re in the area, or if you plan on going to Chicago anytime soon, you really, really ought to go. Knobcon is the brainchild of synthesizer enthusiast “Suit and Tie Guy,” a longtime thought leader on our Keyboard Corner online forum, and proprietor of boutique synth module company STG Soundlabs. You’ll be able to get your hands on exhibitors’ prized vintage synths as well as new synths and modules, there’ll be performances, there’ll be demos, and you will have a rollicking good time. One highlight of the show this year is legendary electronic music composer Malcolm Cecil, architect of the TONTO modular synth and collaborator with musician and proto-rapper Gil Scott Heron.

Knobcon has grown from a small gathering of dedicated enthusiasts to a sizeable and influential event in what we call the M.I. industry. (That stands for musical instrument, but roughly refers to stuff you can plug in and buy at pro music stores--so, synths and modules and amps and PA systems yes, grand pianos and school band instruments no.) “We’ve booked over 300 room nights so far,” Suit and Tie Guy tells me, “last year it was much less. We’re expecting over 400 attendees, and have 24 sponsors including Novation, Roland, and Yamaha. Moog will be there, too.”

As if that’s not enough, the hotel where it’s held is both very nice and very affordable. But it’s filling up fast, so book your room soon.

Seriously, if you’re into synths, this is maybe the most legit, talent-filled, brainy, non-glitzy, non-corporate gathering outside of far smaller local meets.

Synth-pop Svengali Vince Clarke is proud to announce that he will be releasing a series of creative and utilitarian modules for the ever-present Eurorack small-format modular system under the namesake Clarke company name, and in collaboration with Analogue Solutions.

Arturia has just released a special limited edition of their popular MicroBrute monphonic analog synthesizer, the MicroBrute SE. The main features include three available colors (yellow/gold, white, and light blue) and included stackable patch cables for increased patching flexibility. The unit also ships in the box with a custom gig bag. While attending Arturia's 15th anniversary celebration in Grenoble, France in October 2014, I got some hands-on time and the opportunity to shoot this quick video demo of three of the units cranking away at once.

Today, it is with great excitement that Moog Music Inc. announces their plans to re-commence the limited run manufacturing of three of their most sought after 5U large format modular synthesizers: The System 55, the System 35 and the Model 15. These three modular synthesizer systems were originally created and manufactured by Moog in 1973.

While it would’ve been easy for Roland to just kick back and release a rack-mount version of the System-1, they took careful notes on the ongoing renaissance of modular equipment and incorporated voltage control into the AIRA synthesis engine in a manner that’s both radical and evocative of their legacy as one of the original architects of modular gear. The System-1m isn’t just a rehash of what’s great about the keyboard version. It’s an entirely new ball game.

We have a cover story on Martin and his new album upcoming in our July 2015 issue. Until then, enjoy this video from Mute Records, in which he talks about being inspired to write and create sounds by his Eurorack modular synth system.

For the cover of our July 2015 issue, Depeche Mode co-founder Martin Gore generously shared his insights into the recording process of his new solo album “MG,” the current state of the music industry, and his favorite synths and modular gear.